8. Rib Resection
Amazingly, the gaping wound in this man's side is not the reason he's in hospital. No, that's his treatment. During the First World War, conditions in the crowded military camps were the ideal environment for disease outbreaks. Influenza and pneumonia were rampant as well as chronic wound infection, resulting in a condition known as pleural empyema or, essentially, pus-filled lungs. Nowadays, we might stick a tube in there to drain out the gunk, but this is actually pretty tricky to do. The poor guy pictured above has actually had most the the ribs on his right side removed, and his shoulder detached from his chest in order to permanently collapse his lung and obliterate the infected pleural space.